Rewinding mechanism for motion-picture projectors



Feb. 4, 1930. J NOLAN 1,745,861

REWINDING MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS Filed April 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 EdwardJNoZazu IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Feb. 4, 1930. J NOLAN 1,745,861

REWINDING MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE PROJECTORS Filed April 9, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 EdwardJNoZam INVENTOR,

A TTORNEYS Patented Feb. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD J. NOLAN OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T EASTMAN KODAK COM- IPANY, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK nnwmnm G MECHANISM FOR MOTION -IPICTURE IPROJ'ECTOBS Application filed April 9,

This invention relates to rewinding mechanism for motion picture apparatus, and more particularly to a motor driven mechani'sm for rewinding film after projection upon the original or supply reel ready for another exhibition.

The principal object of my invention is to provide a mechanism of this type that will 4 be simple in construction and operation, in-

expensive to manufacture and applicable to portable machines now on the market.

This and other objects will appear from the following description, wherein reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in the several figures of which the same reference characters indicate the same parts and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a projector including my invention;

Fig. 2 shows only the belt and pulley arrangement of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a view from the right of Fig. 1 showing only such parts as are particularly involved in my improvement;

F Fig. 4 is an elevation from the rear of ig. 5 shows only certain connections and illustrates their relation to my invention.

My invention is shown as applied to a type of projector now on the market and disclosed in the patents of Wittel, Numbers 1,641,405, granted September 6, 1927, and 1,645,887, granted October 18, 1927, respectively.

The projector consists of a base 1 upon which a pair of plates 2 and 2 are supported, these plates being held together by means of bolts 3 which pass through tubular separating members 4. Plate 2 supports flange 5 by means of bent over lugs 6. This flange carries a tube 7 inside of which there is an objective which may be focused by turning the knurled member 8. A housing 9, supported on plate 2, contains the pulldown mechanism, (not shown) and the front of the housing constitutes with presser member 10 a curved projection gate.

A supply reel is removably carried upon a shaft 12 supported by arm 13 which is pivoted on bolt 14 passing through plates 2 1927. Serial No. 182,458.

and 2, and also forming a pivot for arm 15 carrying shaft 17 on which is removably carried the take-up reel 16. A pulley 18 is affixed to shaft 17. Latch members 31 permit arms 13 and 15 to be folded so that shafts 12 and 17 are positioned in seats 41 and 46. A. handle 26 on shaft 13 is also seated, when folded, in seat 46. Thumb nut 30 may be tightened to hold the arms in adjusted position.

A shaft 20 is j ournalled in the plates 2 and 2' and carries a sprocket 21 and a handle 22 at one end and near the other end knurled finger'piece 25 and a pulley 23, over which and pulley 18 passes a coil spring belt 19 to be more fully described later. Guide rolls 24 hold the film F in place against the sprocket 21.

A lamphouse 27 includes a suitable lamp and optical system for directing light to the gate.

Journalled in plates 2 and 2 is a shaft 32 drivenby motor 33 carried on base 1. On the outer end of this shaft is a small friction pulley 34 about which passes an endless coil spring friction belt 35 which passes around a pulley 36. A plate 45 surrounds and is rotatable on shaft 32 and carries a handle 47 and a belt engaging roller 48- This plate may be rotated between the positions shown in full and dotted lines in Fig. 5. When in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5, this being the position shown in Fig. 4, handle 47 lies below pulley'44 and roller 48 lies within the belt 35 and between the pulleys 34 and 36 and does not have operative engagement with the belt. When the handle is swung to full line position, Fig. 5, the roller Will pass around pulley 34 stretching belt 35 and passing between the belt and pulley. It will then holdthe belt stretched and out of operative engagement with the pulley 34.

Pulley 36 is connected with the pulldown mechanism (not shown) and also, by a gear train 28, with shaft 20.

On the motor shaft 32 is a pulley 29 in alignment with pulleys 18 and 23. In operation the film F passes from reel 11 over sprocket 21, through gate 10, again over sprocket 21 to the take-up reel 16. The

motor drives pulley 34 and by means of belt 35 and pulley 36 drives the pulldown mechanism and the sprocket 21. Pulley 23 is also driven and iii turn drives the take-up reel, there being slip between the belt 35 and pulleys 18 and 23. If, at any time, handle 47 is rotated the mechanism is disconnected and stops. 7

When the film has'been exhibited, the two reels are interchanged, the full reel being placed on shaft 12 and the empty reel on shaft 17. Belt 19 may be disconnected by means of its hooked ends 30, and threaded over pulley 29 instead of over pulley 23. The driving belt is rendered ineffective by means of the mechanism described and the motor then drives the pulley l8 and the reel on shaft 17 directly from pulley 29, which revolves at a much higher rate than does pulley 23. The film is 'thereupon rapidly rewound. It is not essential that the mechanism be disconnected during this operation but it is desirable since it would bemerely driven idly.

Since the coil spring belts are inexpensive and the disconnection and rethreading of belt 19 causes a certain amount of bother, I prefer to furnish a separate belt 19 as shown in Fig. 1, which is left idly around 1 pulley 29 ericept during the rewinding operation. At that time, belt 19 is slipped from pulley 18 and belt 19' used, neither belt being removed, but one being always idle.

The handles 26 and 22 and knurled knob 25 are seldom used but are furnished for convenient manual operation and adjustment when desired. v

I contemplate as included Within my invention all such modifications and equivalents as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what between said motor and said mechanism, a third pulley also in alignment with the second pulley and driven directly from the mo- 7 tor, and disconnectible driving belt connections between said second pulley and both of the other pulleys whereby said second pulley may be driven alternatively by either of said other pulleys.

Signed at Rochester, New York this 5th day of April 1927. i

' EDWARD J. NOLAN.

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a motion picture projector, mechanism for advancing a film through the projector, a pulley connected with said mechanism for operation synchronously therewith, a shaft for a take-up reel, a pulley on said shaft in alignment with the first pulley, a motor, a driving connection between the motor and the mechanism, a third pulley connected directly to the motor to be driven thereby and in alignment with the second named pulley, and disconnectible driving belt connections between said second pulley and each of the other pulleys whereby the second pulley and the reelshaft may be driven either directly from the motor or indirectly through the mechanism.

2. In a motion picture projector, mechanism for advancing a film through the projector, a pulley driven by said mechanism, a shaft for a take-up reel, a pulley on said shaft in alignment with said first pulley, a

motor, a disconnectible driving connection 

